Blogging is hitting the internet by storm, and with good reason. It gives every person a voice, and a way to express themselves. The best part about it all though is setting up your very own website has never been easier.

The two most used blogging platforms used today have to be Wordpress and Blogger. Without a doubt though, Wordpress has to be the easiest to use, and most customizable blog service. It’s something that even a newcomer to the net could easily learn in just a few days.

Regardless of your web site knowledge, you can create a Wordpress blog in mere minutes by taking advantage of their free blog hosting service. All you have to do is sign up, and you’re ready to go, and it doesn’t cost you a cent. I do recommend however that if you are truly serious about blogging, you should have your own hosting and domain name, but using the free blog hosting service is a great way to experiment and tinker with Wordpress risk free. Then, when you feel comfortable with it, you can proceed to invest in the domain and hosting.

The great thing about blogs is that you can really talk about whatever your heart desires. However, if your goal is to make money blogging, then I have some tips that will make it easier for you to do so.

To begin with, pick a niche and stick with it. The goal as a blogger is to become an authority, someone that readers can trust. If you just blog about random things, no one will think you are an expert at anything. Become a resource for a specific topic, and as an authority people will trust and respect you, and you will be able to monetize based on that trust.

Next, always provide value first. Your main goal should never be to simply capitalize on your readers at any cost, you will never develop any credibility this way. Instead of spamming them all the time with offers and paid posts, provide great content, and in turn a reason for them to come back or subscribe to your RSS feed.

Next, be patient. Blogging does take some serious work, and some time to grow and become capable of earning you substantial income. Remember that even though you may not make money fast, in time your earnings will be able to grow and grow.

Finally, choose the best monetization method for your niche. There are many ways to monetize a blog, such as advertising, paid posts, or widgets; but it’s up to you to test and see what works best. There is one method that works in virtually every niche extremely effectively, and that’s affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is the greatest way to make money with your blog. As you become more popular, and are viewed as an authority, you are able to make strong recommendations to your readers whom are willing to follow your advice and act upon it.